003 TFCC: Which door will you choose?
Welcome to week 3 of The Functional Cognition Chronicles!
If you missed last week’s issue, we explored how increased cognitive load can reduce functional cognition. You can catch it in this blog post.
In summary, we discussed strategies to reduce cognitive load, including:
Limit the number of appointments per day (especially heavier appointments like Occupational Therapy and Psychology on the same day).
Reduce sensory overload in the environment.
Use clear record-keeping systems, like a Health Journal or calendar reminders, to track important information.
Keep the environment organized—clothes, pantry, workspace—to reduce the number of daily decisions.
Simplify or eliminate daily decisions to reduce cognitive load (think of Steve Jobs wearing the same black shirt every day to avoid decision fatigue!).
Use external compensatory strategies, like whiteboards, to manage and offload information.
This Week: Let’s Talk About Environment
When it comes to supporting individuals with functional cognitive impairments, the environment plays a huge role in daily decision-making. Imagine this scenario:
Door One: You walk into a pristine kitchen. Everything is prepped—utensils laid out, ingredients measured, and the recipe broken down into simple, one-step instructions. It’s like a cooking show. Ready, set, cook!
Door Two: You walk into yesterday’s chaos. The sink is full of dishes, dry ingredients scattered across the bench, and some stray mail is mixed in. You tossed everything into the fridge last night with no real order, and now it’s time to make dinner.
Which door would you choose? Just thinking about Door Two makes my shoulders tense up, with all the extra steps involved before even starting the meal. Now imagine how overwhelming this might feel for someone already struggling with decision-making due to a cognitive impairment.
So, how do we help our clients avoid "Door Two" situations? By focusing on creating environments that are organised and designed to minimise decision fatigue.
Where to Start: Tackling Occupational Barriers
Let’s remember to think about our client through an occupational lens, and tackle the occupational barriers they are presenting with.
eg.
For someone who finds it hard to decide what to wear each morning, the solution starts right there—by reducing the number of decisions they face in their clothing choices.
For someone who frequently loses their keys and wallet, the solution starts by reducing the number of places where these items can be stored
Every person is different.
WHy is it important to review someone’s environment?
Reduces cognitive load - a well organied enviornment creates the minimal effort required to process information.
Enhances task efficiency - an optimised space reduces decisions, making task easier and more efficient to complete on a daily basis.
Increases attention - Environment support to reduce distractions and stimuli can assist with sustaining attention to the task at hand. This reduces risks particularly thinking about meal preparation burns and cuts!
Supports independence - As we are increasing their functional capacity to maintain attention, reduce cognitive load and the amount of steps to get to the outcome; we are supporting independence.
The main goal? Make the environment as streamlined as possible to take away the decision-making pressure. Here are some practical Tips & Tricks to help:
Declutter: Less visual stimuli means fewer distractions, leading to less cognitive overload.
Labelling and Signage: Labelling drawers, shelves, or pantry spaces reduces decisions and saves mental energy.
Colour Coding: A simple way to streamline choices—less thinking, more doing.
Lighting Adjustments: Reducing harsh lighting or creating softer, more controlled lighting environments can help minimise distractions.
Create ‘Go Zones’: A designated spot for essentials like keys, wallets, and paperwork makes them easier to find and reduces the mental effort spent searching.
Resources
Creating an organised environment doesn’t just look nice—it also reduces cognitive effort, making day-to-day life easier for everyone, especially those with cognitive impairments. If you’re looking for ways to streamline your space and improve functionality, here are some fantastic resources to help you on your journey.
Instagram Inspiration
For some quick tips and visual inspiration, check out these Instagram accounts:
@spatialawareness____: Offering clever solutions for organising your home.
@clutterbug_me: A treasure trove of tips for decluttering and creating functional spaces.
Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear
One of the best ways to maintain an organised environment is to build long-lasting habits. Atomic Habits by James Clear is a must-read, teaching you how small, actionable changes can lead to big results. When you create good habits, your environment becomes easier to maintain long-term.
Watch: Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
For a little extra motivation, Marie Kondo’s documentary The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up introduces you to the KonMari Method—a transformative approach to decluttering that helps you keep only the items that “spark joy.” It’s a great way to rethink about space and cultivate mindfulness around the things you own.
Need Extra Help? Consider Hiring a Personal OrganiSer
If decluttering feels overwhelming, for your client - they don’t have to go it alone. Personal organisers can offer hands-on assistance in creating a clean, functional space. Simply search for local professionals in your area to get started on your journey to an organized and stress-free environment.
Start small and watch how these changes add up!
